Medical waste: treatment, containment, and storage.

Existing law establishes various programs for the prevention of disease and the promotion of health to be administered by the State Department of Public Health, including, but not limited to, administration of the Medical Waste Management Act relating to the regulation of medical waste, including, but not limited to, provisions related to the treatment, containment, and storage of medical waste. Violation of certain orders pursuant to these provisions is a crime. This bill would authorize the department to approve the use of an alternative method of containerization or storage of medical waste, at the request of a treatment facility or large generator, if the department determines that the alternative method will provide the same level of public health protection as provided under those provisions and would require that 30 days prior to final approval of an alternative method, the department post on the department's Internet Web site public notice of the pending approval, including a method for members of the public to comment on the proposed alternative method.